Orthodontic device



J1me 1963 J. M. RUBIN ETAL ORTHODONTIC DEVICE Original Filed Oct. 22,1957 BY Arm/m0 3,691,857 ORTHQDONTIC DEVICE James M. Rubin, 220 (IentralPark 5., New York, N.Y., and Ronald W. Rubin, New York, N.Y. (620 W.246th St., Riverrlale, NX.) Continuation of application Ser. No.691,654, Oct. 22, 1957. This application Feb. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 89,4696 Claims. (Cl. 32-14) This invention relates generally to an orthodonticdevice and more specifically to a device for securing orthodonn'c archwires to teeth to effect the movement and the resultant straightening ofsaid teeth.

Devices for securing arch wires to teeth are not new in the art.However, many devices have failed to operate satisfactorily because theyneglected to take into account the minute dimensions of all the partsemployed and the fact that the arch wires and the devices for securingthem must be applied to a patients teeth, thereby causing discomfort tothe patient during extended operating periods.

Existing arch wire engaging devices, or brackets are of three types: Thefirst is a ligating bracket which requires the use of soft wire to tiethe arch wire to the bracket. Even in easily accessible locations in thepatients mouth, this is a time consuming and difficult operationnecessarily causing discomfort to the patient. The second is anon-ligating bracket with a removable cover which may be secured to thebracket for holding the arch wire. This type of bracket has thedisadvantage that the loose cover may be dropped while attempting tomaneuver it into place in the patients mouth, with the possibility thatit could be swallowed by the patient. The third type is a non-ligatingbracket with an attached cover which eliminates some of the problems andinconveniences of the previous types of bracket. However, the bracketsof this type heretofore developed necessitated that the locking portionbe crimped, screwed or twisted into place. Therefore, these brackets arestill time consuming to operate and sometimes require excessive forcesfor securing them, both causing unnecessary discomfort to the patient.Furthermore, it has been known for these brackets to freeze or lock intoposition, thereby making removal of the brackets or replacing of thearch wires extremely difficult.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an arch wireengaging bracket of simple design.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved arch wireengaging bracket having a hinged cover which can be easily closed andopened.

A further object of this invention is to provide for the securing ofarch wires in an engaging bracket and the removal of said arch wiresfrom said bracket with minimal discomfort to the patient.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an arch wireengaging bracket which, when closed, is locked with a force proportionalto the pressure exerted by the arch Wire.

Another object of this invention is to provide an arch wire engagingbracket which is completely assembled prior to insertion into thepatients mouth, and which has no loose parts which can fall into thepatients mouth.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the specification.

Generally speaking, in accordance with this invention, an arch wireengaging bracket is secured by any suitable means to a band which Willencircle and be cemented to a patients tooth. The bracket consists of abody portion and a cover portion hinged to the body portion, the bodyportion being secured to the band. The body portion has one or moregrooves therein to accommodate one or more arch wires, and the cover isconstructed so as to lock the arch wires in place when the cover isclosed. The bracket is secured to the band and one of these compositeunits is cemented to each of the patients teeth selected by theorthodontist. Bands are placed on at least one tooth adjacent on eachside to the tooth to be straightened but bands on a multiplicity ofadjacent teeth is not uncommon. The cover of each of the brackets isthen opened and one or more arch wires are placed in the body portion ofthe bracket. The covers are thereupon securely closed so as to lock thearch wire in place. The arch wire is positioned to exert the desiredforce on the tooth to be straightened.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is bad to thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,and its scope will be pointed out with particularity in the appendedclaims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of five adjacent teeth having the orthodonticdevice of the invention attached to each tooth with a single arch wiresecured by the orthodontic devices.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the orthodontic device attached to asection of a tooth band and having an arch wire secured therein.

FIG. 3 is a broken away view showing the com ponent parts of a device ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a broken away view showing a second embodiment of theorthodontic device.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate construction for the latch portion of theorthodontic device.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows an alternate construction of the body portion of FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. 1, five adjacent teeth 11 are depicted, thecentral tooth displaced with relation to the smooth are formed by theother teeth. In order to return the center tooth 11 to the regular areformed by the other teeth, it is necessary that a force be exerted uponit for a period of time to eifect movement of the misaligned tooth toits proper position. Attached to each tooth 11 by means of a suitablecement, is a band 12 having an engaging bracket 13 soldered, welded orotherwise attached thereto. An arch wire 14 is secured by each ofengaging brackets 13 to exert pressure on the tooth 11 which is out ofalignment.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the engaging bracket consists of two parts, abody portion 15 and acover portion 16. Body portion 15 has theconfiguration of a substantially rectangular block with one of the sidesof maximum area positioned to be mounted to band 12. Extendinglongitudinally near one edge of the same side is a hinge groove 17. Inthe approximate middle of the opposite side of body portion 15 is anarch wire groove 18 running parallel to hinge groove 17. Projecting froma smaller side furthest from and parallel to hinge groove 17 is a latch19.

Multiangular cover portion 16 has a U-shaped face 21, the legs of the Ubeing bent at right angles to form the top of cover portion 16 with amember 22 extending between extremities of the legs. Extending at rightangles from the lower portions of the legs of the U are two arms 23which are bent again at right angles to form hinge arms 24. The hingearms extend towards each other and are parallel to U-shaped face 21.Each of hinge arms 24 is twisted on its axis to form the pivot portionof the cover hinge.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, hinge arms 24 are placed in hinge groove17 and body portion 15 is secured to band 12. Cover portion tached tobody portion 15, the around hinge arms 24. To secure arch wire 14 ingroove 18, cover portion 16 is rotated to the closed position andsecured therein by member 22 which rides over latch .19. It is notedthat the greater the pressure exerted by arch wire 14, the more securelywill member 22 abut latch 19. The engaging bracket may be opened by thelifting of member 22 to a height to clear latch U.

In operation, individual engaging brackets are assembled on hands 12,and the bands are cemented to the patients teeth. Once the bands aresecurely in place, the cover portions 16 of all the engaging brackets 13are opened and an arch wire 14'is positioned in the arch wire groove 18of each 'of the engaging brackets. After the arch wire 14 has beenpositioned, it is locked into place by closing and latching each of thecover portions 16.

FIG. discloses an alternate gaging bracket.

16 is thereby hingedly atcover portion being pivoted construction of theen- Body portion 15 may be provided with a longitudinally extending hole25 or a hinge groove 17 as disclosed in FIG. 3. Cover portion 16 hasarms 23 provided with hole through which pass a pin 26, eliminating thenecessity for hinge arms 24. The engaging bracket is assembled byplacing cover portion 16 over body portion 15 and securing pin 26through arms 23 and hole 25 or groove 17. The operation of thisembodiment would be identical to that of the engaging bracket disclosedin FIGS. 24. An additional arch wire groove 27 is illustrated to showthat the invention is not limited to the utilization of a single archwire in conjunction with theengaging brackets. In fact, as many archwires may be used in all embodiments as are considered desirable by theorthodontist applying the device to the patients teeth.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show' an alternate latch construction whereby the latchsection in body portion 15 is formed as a latch depression 28 while thecover portion carries a corresponding projection 29. This type ofconstruction may be used in areas where the projection of latch 19 isfound undesirable.

FIG. 8 shows an alternate construction of body portion :15 havingwelding flanges 31 projecting from each side to provide additional areafor welding to band 12.

This application has particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed thepart, improvement, or combination which is claimed as the invention ordiscovery, and there has been explained the principles thereof and thebest modes contemplated for applying those principles so as a todistinguish the invention from other inventions.

While there has been shown and described certain preferred embodimentsof the invention, it will be understood that modifications maybe madewithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as will be clear tothose skilled in the art.

I This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 691,654,filed October 22, 1957 and now abandoned.

What is claimed is: I

1. An orthodontic device having body means and cover means pivotedthereto, said body means comprising a substantially rectangular blockhaving a first side, a pivot groove extehding the entire length in saidfirst side near one edge thereof, a second side parallel to said firstside, at least one archwire groove extending the entire length in saidsecond side parallel to said pivot groove, a third side between saidfirst and second sides and parallel to said grooves, said thirdsidebeing the side furthest away from said pivot groove, and latch meansin said third side for latching said cover means, said cover means .4comprising a substantially U-shaped cover portion, the upper ends of thelegs of said U extending at right angles to themselves and parallel toeach other, a latch member extending between the leg of said U, a pairof arms extending parallel to each other from the lower ends of the legsof said U near the base of said U, and pivot arms extending towards eachother at right angles from said arms, said pivot arms each being rotatedupon their own axis along the length thereof, said pivot arms riding insaid pivot groove for pivoting said cover means with relation to saidbody means, said latch member adapted to engage said latch means forlocking said cover means with relation to said body means.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said latch means comprises ablock portion projecting from said third side to latch said latch memberwhen said latch member rides over said block portion.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said latch means comprises alatch groove in said third side and said latch member has acorresponding depressed portion therein, said latch groove adapted to beengaged by said latch member when said cover means is closed withrelation to said body means.

4. An orthodontic device having body means, cover means pivoted theretoand a pivot pin, said body means comprising a substantially rectangularblock having a first side, a second side parallel to said first side, apivot hole extending the entire length of said block between said firstand second sides, a third side between said first and second sides, saidpivot hole being parallel to said third side, a fourth side parallel tosaid third side, said pivot hole being nearer said third side than saidfouth side, at least one arch wire groove extending the entire length ofsaid second side parallel to said pivot hole, and latch means in saidfourth side for latching said cover means, said cover means comprising asubstantially U-shaped portion, the upper ends of the legs of said Uextending at right angles to themselves and parallel of each other, alatch member extending between the legs of said U, a pair of armsextending parallel to each other from the lower ends of the legs of saidU near the base of said U, said pair of arms each having a hole therein,said cover means positioned over said body means with said holes in saidpair of arms positioned over said pivot 'hole, said pivot pin beingsecured through said pair of arms and said pivot hole permitting saidcover means to pivot with relation to said body means, said latch memberadapted to engage said latch means for locking said cover means withrelation to said body means.

5. The structure defined in claim 4 wherein said latch means comprises ablock portion projecting from said fourth side to latch said latchmember when said latch member rides over said block portion.

6. The structure defined in claim 4 wherein said latch means comprises alatch groove in said fourth side and said latch member has acorresponding depressed portion therein, said latch groove adapted to beengaged by said latch member when said cover means is closed withrelation to said body means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,381,128 Laskin Aug. 7, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 436,597 Great Britain Oct.15, 19 35

1. AN ORTHODONTIC DEVICE HAVING BODY MEANS AND COVER MEANS PIVOTEDTHERETO, SAID BODY MEANS COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR BLOCKHAVING A FIRST SIDE, A PIVOT GROOVE EXTENDING THE ENTIRE LENGTH IN SAIDFIRST SIDE NEAR ONE EDGE THEREOF, A SECOND SIDE PARALLEL TO SAID FIRSTSIDE, AT LEAST ONE ARCH WIRE GROOVE EXTENDING THE ENTIRE LENGTH IN SAIDSECOND SIDE PARALLEL TO SAID PIVOT GROOVE, A THIRD SIDE BETWEEN SAIDFIRST AND SECOND SIDES AND PARALLEL TO SAID GROOVES, SAID THIRD SIDEBEING THE SIDE FURTHEST AWAY FROM SAID PIVOT GROOVE, AND LATCH MEANS INSAID THIRD SIDE FOR LATCHING SAID COVER MEANS, SAID COVER MEANSCOMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED COVER PORTION, THE UPPER ENDS OF THELEGS OF SAID U EXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THEMSELVES AND PARALLEL TOEACH OTHER, A LATCH MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN THE LEGS OF SAID U, A PAIROF ARMS EXTENDING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER FROM THE LOWER ENDS OF THE LEGSOF SAID U NEAR THE BASE OF SAID U, AND PIVOT ARMS EXTENDING TOWARDS EACHOTHER AT RIGHT ANGLES FROM SAID ARMS, SAID PIVOT ARMS EACH BEING ROTATED90* UPON THEIR OWN AXIS ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF, SAID PIVOT ARMS RIDINGIN SAID PIVOT GROOVE FOR PIVOTING SAID COVER MEANS WITH RELATION TO SAIDBODY MEANS, SAID LATCH MEMBER ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID LATCH MEANS FORLOCKING SAID COVER MEANS WITH RELATION TO SAID BODY MEANS.